Apparatus for longwall mining



June 26, 1962 c. F. BALL 3,041,054

APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING Filed March 28. 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvsu'row- CHARLES F. BALL ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 c, BALL APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING 11 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed March 28, 1955 INVENTOR:

CHARLES E BALL ATTORNEY c. BALL APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING June 26, 1962 Filed March 28. 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 2.

WW WWW INVENTOR: CHARLES F. BALL ATTORNEY 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 mveu'ron:

CHARLES F. BALL ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 c. F. BALL APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING Filed March 28. 1955 June 26, 1962 c. F. BALL 3,041,054

APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING Filed March 28. 1955 11, Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5.

mvamoa: CHARLES F. BALL ATTO R N EY June 26, 1962 c. F. BALL 3,041,054

APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING mvsmon: CHARLES F. BALL BY I I ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 F. BALL 3,

APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING V Filed March 28. 1955 l1 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIGS. 7.1

INVENTORI BY CHARLES F. BALL ATTO R N EY June 26, 1962 c. F. BALL APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 28. 1955 FIG. 12.

' mvsrrron: CHARLES F. BALL ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 c. F. BALL 3,041,054

APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING Filed March 28. 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 I L-za J tjjr-w 3 FIG. 18. [74 /0 k INVENTORZ CHARLES F. BALL ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 c. F. BALL 3,041,054

APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING 11 SheetsSheet 10 Filed March 28. 1955 MOT INVENTOR:

CHARLES F. BALL ATTORN EY C. F. BALL APPARATUS FOR LONGWALL MINING 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR:

CHARLES F. BALL ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 Filed March 28. 1955 United States Patent 3,041,054 APPARATUS FOR LON GWALL MINING Charles F. Ball, Franklin, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 28, 1955, Ser. No. 496,962 12 Claims. (Cl. 262-9) This invention relates to mining machines and more particularly to a longwall continuous miner, especially designed for use in the mining of minerals such as coal from the solid in accordance with the longwall method.

In longwall mining it is usually necessary to provide roof supports set as close to the face as possible. In mechanized longwall mining the mining machine or device operates in the relatively restricted space between the coal face and the nearest roof props and in a machine such as a continuous miner which operates on the butt of the face, a section of mineral is removed from the solid and the dislodged and disintegrated mineral is usually moved onto a conveyor and loaded out. Commonly such machines or devices are used in connection with snaking chain conveyors which, to facilitate repositioning thereof as the face of the mine vein is advanced, are also located between the face and the nearest row of props and this arrangement results in a prop-free front. Usually, the machine or mining device may be Wholly or partially supported on the conveyor structure or may travel in adjacency to it. For a machine that cuts in either direction along the face, the conveyor may be advanced toward the new face as fast as the machine advances and roof props may be set as close to the conveyor as practical. If the machine operates only in one direction, it must be retracted along the face back to the point of starting so that it may be repositioned to start another out prior to the repositioning of the conveyor and the setting of additional roof props.

Also, in mechanized longwall mining, with a machine of the frontal attack type operating on the butt, the section of mineral removed from the face is usually of sufiicient cross sectional dimensions to admit the machine as mining progresses. In a known type of machine, the disintegrating head mechanism must be moved in vertical planes to effect a cut of the necessary height and the disintegrating head mechanism is of a fixed width. Since such a machine usually must be retracted along the face back to its point of starting, it is impossible to set a row of roof props close to the face due to the space necessary to permit retraction of the machine between the face and the line of roof props.

The present invention contemplates improvements over known types of machines for mechanized longwall mining I in that not only may a full frontal attack be made on the butt of the face but also, due to novel features of construction, timbering of the roof up to the new face may occur as rapidly as the machine advances and the props and roof bars may be maintained in position while the machine completes the face and retracts to the starting end to begin another cut. The same props and roof bars may remain in place as the succeeding cut progresses and additional roof props may be set close to the face in back of the machine as mining progresses.

The continuous mining machine of the present invention is of the full frontal attack type which operates on the butt of the face completely to remove a section of mineral of suflicient cross sectional area to admit the machine as the latter advances. In the present construction, the disintegrating mechanism completely dislodges and disintegrates the mineral with one operation without the necessity of adjusting movements of the head mechanism, with the head mechanism maintained at full width and height during the cutting, and the outside boundaries 3,041,054 Fatented June 26, 1962 of the head mechanism may be reduced in cross section so that when the machine is retracted to a new starting position it may move freely within the restricted space between the rows of roof props without necessitating repositioning of the latter with the attendant dangers, particularly under a bad roof. The disintegrating head mechanism of the miner of the present invention may not only be collapsed to permit retraction of the machine along the face but also may be readily expanded into its normal operating condition, and collapse and expansion of the head mechanism may be effected in a relatively simple and expeditious manner.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mining machine or device. Another object is to provide an improved continuous miner of the full frontalattack type, especially designed for use in accordance with the longwall method of mining. Yet another object is to provide an improved mine vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism of the frontal-attack type adapted to operate along a longwall face with a prop-supported front to remove a section of mineral from the solid of such cross sectional dimensions as to admit the machine as mining progresses. A further object is to provide an improved longwall mining machine having a disintegrating head mechanism which may be adjusted to reduce its outermost boundaries to decrease the size of the head mechanism to permit ready retraction of the machine. A still further object is to provide an improved longwall miner having a co lapsible disintegrating head mechanism whereby the head mechanism may be collapsed for movement of the miner past the rows of roof props back toward the point of starting. Yet another object is to provide an improved attacking and disintegrating mechanism embodying cooperating rotary boring heads for forming overlapping bores in the solid mineral and having associated therewith, loop cutter means for cutting the roof and side walls to enlarge the opening formed by the bores to provide a passageway inside the coal face of such cross sectional dimensions as to receive the miner as the latter is advanced. A still further object is to provide an improved disintegrating head mechanism embodying improved adjustable cut ting means. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

FIGS. 1 and la, taken together, constitute a plan view of a longwall continuous miner constructed in accordance with a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 2 and 2a, taken together, constitute a side elevational view of the miner shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a.

FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front end elevational view of the miner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the head mechanism in expanded position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a detail horizontal section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are detail vertical sections taken on lines 77 and 8-8 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a cross section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal horizontal section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a detail view showing one of the detached side frame portions of the hopper.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross section taken on line 12--12 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a detail horizontal section taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a detail vertical section taken in the planes of line 14-14 of FIG. 12, showing details of the guiding means for the adjustable top cutter.

-FIG.115 is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken in the planes of line 15-15 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 16 is a detail section taken on line 1616 of FIG. 18, showing a portion of the transmission gearing for the disintegrating head mechanism.

FIG. 17 is 'an' enlarged cross section taken on line 17- 17 of FIG. 1a. 9 7

FIG. 18 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 18- 18 of FIGS. 1:: and 2a.

FIG. 19 is a somewhat diagrammatic view looking toward the front end of the head mechanism, with the latter in expanded position.

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 19, showing the head mechanism in collapsed position.

FIG. 21is a diagrammatic view showing the continuous miner operating at a longwall face in accordance with the method disclosed. f

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic view showing the miner in retracting position at the face, with the disintegrating head collapsed and with the machine moving rearwardly 7 between the parallel rows of roof props.

The improved longwall continuous miner generally comprises a mobile base 1,.desirably a crawler base adapted to travel over the floor of a mine, having tiltably mountedthereon, at '2, an elongated frame 3 which extends longitudinally forwardly and rearwardly of the base, as shown in FIGS; 2 and 2a. Carried at the front portion of thetiltable frame 3 is a mine vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism or so-called disintegrating head mechanism, generally designated 4. The attacking and disintegrating mechanism comprises a pair of cooperating rotary boring instruments or so-called boring heads 5 and *6 disposed on parallel longitudinal axes, an upper or top and side cutter 7 extending transversely of the frame rearwardly of the boring instruments, and side and bottom cutters 8 and 9 arranged in a transverse zone intermediate the transverse top cutter and the boring instruments. Conveying means, generally designated 10, is arranged longitudinally within the tiltable frame 3 and this conveying means comprises a front conveyor 11 extending longitudinally at the bottom of a hopper 12 and a mop erating'rear conveyor 13. The conveyor 13 may discharge onto a conveyor 14 which may be of any suitable type.

A pair of coacting rotary breaker and impeller devices 15 are located within the hopper at'the sides of the conveyor 11 with their axes aligned respectively with the axes of rotation of the boring instruments 5 and 6, and these devices serve to break up the mineral dislodged and moved rearwardly by the head mechanism and move the disintegrated mineral onto the conveying means. A motor 16 has its casing supporting the upper frame structure and in effect constituting a .portion of the tiltable frame, andthis motor is located above the base. The motor 16 drives the head mechanism 4, the conveying means and pressure generators or fluid pumps 17 and 18 of relatively different capacities which supply fluid, desirablyliquid, under pressure to the several fluid operated devices of the machine, as later described.

The crawler base 1 comprises aframe 19 in the form for a fabricated plate structure rigidly: secured to side frames 20 about which endless crawler'treads 21' are to the crawler treads in the manner fully disclosed in my cppending application serial. No. 86,516, filed April 9, 1949, now .matured into Patent No. 2,705,626, dated 7 April 5, 1955. The variable capacity pump 17 may sup-. ply fluid under pressure to the tread driving motors under the control of conventional control valve means. Also, if

' position. r

desired, the crawler treads may be driven by hydraulic propelling means similar to that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 396,508, filed December 7, 1953, now matured into Patent No. 2,771,958, dated November 27, 1956.

The pivotal mounting for the tiltable frame 3 .on the base is provided by aligned pivot pins 22 secured to longitudinal vertical plates 23 of the base frame structure and parallel cars 24 secured to the base frame 19, and bearing supports 25 rigidly secured to the'motor casing at the opposite sides of the tiltable frame (FIG. 17) support bearing sleeves or bushings 26 surrounding and engaging the pivot pins 22... The pivots 2 are-desirably located near the rearward portion of the base frame and mounted on the base frame at the forward portion thereof are extensible fluid jacks having cylinders 27 (see also FIG. 1)

secured, at 28, to the front end of the base frame 19. These jack cylinders contain plungers 29 which engage suitable abutment surfaces at the sides of the tiltable frame. Thus, when fluid under pressure is suppied to the jack cylinders the tiltable frame 3 may be tiltedabout its pivot 2 to raise and lower the head mechanism 4 with respect to the floor level and by trapping fluid within these cylinders the tiltable frame may be held in adjusted .Now referring to the detail structure of the attacking and disintegrating head mechanism 4,'it will be noted that sturdy drive shafts 30 extend longitudinally at opposite sides of the tiltable frame 3 and, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, these shafts extend centrally within elongated tubular housings or tubelike supports 31 integral with the tiltable frame and support bearings 32 and 33 in which the shafts are journaled. The shafts 30- project a substantial distance forwardly from the tubular supports 31 (FIG. 10) and keyed at 34 at their forward ends are hubs 35 of the rotary boring instruments 5 and '6 rcspectively. A I

The rotary boring instruments may assume various forms, but herein desirably each comprises, for illustrative a front cutter bit 43. The cutters on the arms of the" boring instruments, upon rotation of the latter with the drive shafts, cut concentric. annular kerfs in the solid mineral of. a mine vein and the drill bit and wedge penetrate and break down the central core while the annular projection ofmineral formed bythe kerf cutters breaks away as a result 'of the cutting action during the boring operation. a

The motor16 is herein arranged with its axis extending centrally lengthwise of the tiltable frame and con-:

nected to therear end' of the motor shaft through acon ventional slip clutch 44' (FIG. 16) is a coaxial shaft 45. The clutch 44 is arranged within a bell-housing 46 secured to the motor casing. Secured to and driven by the shaft 45 is abevel pinion 47 (FIG. 18) at its opposite: sides.

meshing with and driving bevel gears 48 secured to ,outwardly and downwardly inclinedshafts 49 -lying in a transverse vertical plane perpendicular to the motor axis. These shafts are suitably journaled Within bearings supported within gear housings 50 secured; to and Supported by the bell-housings 46. 'Secured to the inclined shafts 49 are worms 5 1 meshing with and driving worm wheels. 52 having their hubs suitablyv journaled within the gear; housings 50. Splined within the hubs of the worm wheels.

are shafts 54 having formed on their forward portions spur pinions 55 meshing with planet gears 56 mounted on shafts supported within rotatable planet carriers 57 likewise a suitably journaled within bearings supported within the gear housing. The planet gcars 56 mesh with relatively stationary internal gears 58 formed in the gear housings. The hubs of the planet carriers are keyed at 59 to the casings 60' of conventional universal couplings 61, the latter having inner sleeves 62 splined at 63 to the rear ends of horizontal shafts 64 respectively. The shafts 64 extend longitudinally along the sides of the tiltable frame 3 in substantial axial alignment with the shafts 30, in the manner shown. The front ends of the shafts 64 are connected by conventional universal couplings 65 to the rear ends of the shafts '30. From the foregoing it is evident that when the motor 16 is running, the rotary boring instruments 5 and 6 are rotated in relatively opposite directions through the bevel gearings 47, 48, the worm gearings 51, 52, the planetary reduction gearings 55, 56, 58 and the shafts 64 and 30. As viewed in FIG. 4, the boring instrument 5 revolves in a counter-clockwise direction while the boring instrument 6 revolves in a clockwise direction.

The top and side cutter 7 operates at the roof level and comprises a guide frame 67 providing a guideway 68 in which an endless loop-type cutter chain 69 is guided for orbital circulation. This loop cutter chain has forwardly projecting lugs of its cutter links 70 arranged at the forward side of the chain guideway and these lugs carry forwardly projecting face-type cutter bits 71. The side portions 72 of the guide frame are laterally adjustable herein desirably slidingly mounted on horizontal guides 73 extending transversely of the machine above the tiltable frame and these guides are carried by a rearward transversely extending frame or support 74 overlying the tiltable frame and mounted on a transverse bar 75 (FIGS. 3 and 12). The inner ends of the slidable side frames 72 abut, at 76, a detachable frame section or distance piece 77 held in position by screws 78. The frame section 77, upon release of the screws, may be removed from the guide frame to permit the side frames 72 to slide inwardly toward one another to bring their inner ends in abutting engagement at the longitudinal vertical center of the machine, for a purpose to be later described. The cutter chain extends transversely across the upper horizontal portion of the guide frame 67, passes around the curved sides of the adjustable side frames 72 and then extends vertically downwardly and then inwardly. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the portions of the cutter chain at the left-hand sides of these figures extend downwardly and inwardly, at 79, around a chain sprocket 80 keyed, at 81, to the left-hand shaft 30. This sprocket is arranged coaxial with the hub of the boring instrument 5, as shown, and is driven by its coaxial shaft 3% in unison with the boring instrument 5. The chain extends around the lower portion of the sprocket 8t and passes upwardly over an idler sprocket 82 and then laterally toward the right-hand sides of FIGS. 4 and 9 around the inwardly curved lower portion of the right-hand side frame 72.

The guide frame 67 of the top cutter is adjustable in a vertical direction and has secured thereto upright guides 84 guided in the guideways of vertical guide members 85 on the sides of the hopper 12. The elevating means for the guide frame comprises extensible power jacks 86 (FIGS. 1 and 12) arranged at the outer sides of the tiltable frame. These jacks include fluid cylinders 87 pivotally mounted, at 88, at their lower ends on brackets 89 carried by the lower portion of the tiltable frame 3. Reciprocable in the cylinders are pistons 90 having their piston rods 91 extending upwardly above the tiltable frame into pivotal connection, at 92, with reduced end portions 93 of the transverse horizontal bar 75. The bar 75 is rigidly keyed, at 94, to vertical guides 95 slidingly guided in vertical guideways 96 of guide members 97 on the tiltable frame (see also FIGS. 13 and 14). Thus, when fluid under pressure is properly supplied to the jack cylinders, the guide frame 67 of the upper cutter may be adjusted in a vertical direction relative to the machine frame to vary the operating height of the transverse upper portion of the loop cutter chain 69. By trapping fluid Within the jack cylinders the cutter guide frame may be held in adjusted position. When difierent heights of adjustment of the upper cutter are desired, the guides may have guides of different lengths substituted therefor, and jacks having adjusting strokes of different lengths may be employed. The upper side portions of the frame 3 are vertically recessed or cut away at 98 to receive the transverse bar 75 when the cutter guide frame 67 is moved to lowered position.

Now referring to the side and bottom cutters 8 and 9, it will be noted that arranged at opposite sides of the tiltable frame are guide frames 100 slidingly guided, at 101, along transverse guideways 162 formed on the bottom guide frame 103 (FIG. 5). The guide frames 100 provide guideways 104 for endless loop-type cutter chains 105. These cutter chains have cutter links 106 whose lugs project forwardly from the front, open sides of the guideways and these lugs carry forwardly projecting facetype cutter bits 107. The cutter frames 100 have vertical side portions disposable in substantial alignment with the vertical side portions of the adjustable side frames 72 of the top cutter and transversely extending, inwardly directed horizontal portions 108 and the cutter chains extend upwardly from the inner ends of these horizontal portions around sprockets 109 mounted on the parallel shafts 30 in coaxial relation with the latter. These sprockets are keyed, at 110, to the shafts 30 and are driven by the latter. Thus, when the shafts 30 are driven to rotate the boring instruments in relatively opposite directions, the side and bottom cutter chains are circulated orbitally along the guideways of their guide frames.

In this improved construction, the horizontal frame portions 111 at their inner ends abut, at 112, an intermediate frame section 113 detachably secured in position by screws 114. The frames 1% may be adjusted laterally properly to position the loop chains and conventional shims 114 may be inserted between the inner ends of the frame portions 111 and the ends of the frame section 113. When the frame section 113 is detached, upon removal of the screws 114, the guide frames 100 may he slid inwardly to bring the inner ends of their horizontal portions 111 into abut-ting contact at the longitudinal vertical center of the machine, for a purpose to be later described. The detachable frame section or distance piece 113 has an inclined upper surface 115 (FIG. 3) providing a transverse bottom edge 116 to provide a front penetrating nose which serves, as the machine is advanced, to remove the upstanding point or cusp of mineral left on the floor by the rotary boring instruments between the latter. This noselike portion also serves to direct the dislodged mineral upwardly and rearwardly within a space 117 (FIG. 3) disposed rearwardly of the side and bottom cutters 8 and 9 and into which the forward portion of the conveying means extends.

The hopper 12 has detachable side portions 119 which must be removed when the guide frames 100 of the side and bottom cutters are slid inwardly to decrease the lateral dimension of the head mechanism. These side portions 119 are held in position on the forward portion of the tiltable frame by screws 12% and at their forward portions are provided with transverse horizontal recesses 121 (FIG. 5) receiving rectangular support portions 122 on the side guide frames 100 of the side and bottom cutters. Bolts 123 having heads received in transverse slots 124 serve to secure the side portions 119 to the cutter guide frames and when these bolts are loosened and the screws are removed, the side portions of the hopper frame may be bodily detached laterally. One of the detached side frame portions 119 is shown in FIG. 11. The guides 85 are detachably secured to the side portions 119 of the hopper and must be detached from the members 84 by loosening screws 125 prior to the removal of the hopper side portions.

During raising and lowering of the upper cutter 7 to change its operating height, the lower run of the loop cutter chain either tightens or slackens and after 'the proper height is determined the idler 82 may be positioned to place the chain under proper tension. To accomplish such positioning of the idler 82, an arm 126, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, has its annular hub mounted on a bearing 127 supported on a sleeve128 surrounding and carried by the coaxial shaft 30. The idler 82 is journaledon the outer end portion of this arm on a shaft 129' parallel with the shaft 30. Detachably connected at 130' to the arm is a cable 131'which passes over an arcuate guide 132 on a segmental portion integral with the arm hub (FIG. 9 and this cable extends laterally around a guide sheave or pulley 133 journaled on a bearing bracket 134 attached to the adjacent side of the hopper frame; The cable extends rearwardly from this pulley (see also FIG. 2) and around a sheave or pulley 135 journaled on a bearing bracket 136 attached to the adjacent tubular shaft support 31. Mounted in the bracket 136 is a fluid cylinder 137 of an extensible fluid jack. This cylinder contains a reciprocable piston 138 having a rearwardly extending piston rod 139 on the rear end of which a bracket 149 for a pulley or sheave 141 is mounted. The

cable 131 extends rearwardly from the pulley 1235 around the pulley 1'41 and then forwardly from the latter into connection at 142 with 'a'bracket attached to the adjacent shaft support 31. Thus, when fluid under pressure is properly supplied to the jack cylinder, the piston is moved rearwardly to cause the pulley 141 todefiect the intermediate portion of the cable engaged thereby, to swing the idler supporting arm 126 in transverse vertical planes about its pivotal mounting. Thus, by proper adjustment 7 of the idler pulley 82, the upper loop cutter chain may be maintained under proper tension irrespective of the vertically adjusted position of the upper cutter and by trapping fluid in the jack cylinder, the idler may be held in ad justed position.

As shown in FIG. 17, driven by the front end of the motor shaft is a bevel pinion 142 at its opposite sides meshing .with and driving bevel gears 143. These bevel gears are formed integral withjrelativ'ely inclined outwardly and upwardly extending shafts 144 connected by universal joints 145 to shafts 146. The axes of the shafts The disintegrated mineral received in the space 117 is frame 174 extending rearwardly of the upper portion of the tiltable frame 3 and desirably forming a part of the latter (see also FIGS. 17 and 18). As shown in FIG. 15, the rear conveyor 13 drives the front conveyor 11 and the forward portions of the side chains 164 pass around sprockets 175 secured to a transverse shaft 176 suitably 144 and 146 lie in a transverse vertical plane perpendicular to the motor axis. The right-hand shaft 146, as viewed in FIG. 17, drives through a universal joint 147 a shaft 148 suitably journaled within a gear housing 149 attached to the adjacent side of the tiltable frame. The shaft 143 drives a bevel pinion 150 meshing with a bevel gear 151 secured to longitudinal shafting 152 suitably journaled within the gear housing. The shafting 152 drives through journaled within the conveyor side frames.

is connected by an endless drive chain 179 to a chain sprocket 180 secured to a transverse shaft 181, likewise suitably journaled Within the conveyor side frame. Secured to the shaft 181 are chain sprockets 182 which engage and drive the chain of the front conveyor 11.

The rotary breaker and impeller. devices 15 arranged in parallel side-by-side relation within the hopper 12 comprise sleevelike or tubular hubs 184 respectively surrounding the tubular supports 31- and journaled at their rearward cnds in bearings 185 supported by the tubular shaft supports, as shown in FIG. 10. Formed integral with the tubular hubs 184 are spirally arranged spaced paddles or breaker plates or arms 186 which serve to break up any large lumps of mineral received in the hopper and move the disintegrated mineral rearwardly and inwardly toward the conveying means. The forward ends of the tubular hubs 184 of the breaker and impeller devices are supported by the shafts 30. The left-hand breaker and impeller device, as viewed in FIG. 9, is keyed at 187to the sleeve 128 on which a svvingable idler. arm 126 is mounted, and this sleeve, in turn, is keyed at 188 to the coaxial shaft 39. The hub of the right-hand breaker or impeller device, as viewed in FIG. 9, is similarly mounted and is similarly keyed to its coaxial .shaft. Thus, the breaker or impeller devices are driven by the shafts 30 in relatively opposite directions, the breaker or impeller devices rotating in unison with the rotary boring instruments 5 and 6 respectively.

A conventional valve box 196 for the several hydraulic cylinders (FIG. 1) is mounted on the adjacent tubular shaft support 31 at the opposite side of the machine frame a the control box and the take-up jack, the associated takeshaft 160 suitably journaled within'a housing 161. The

shaft 160 drives through conventional reduction gearing contained in the housing 161 a transverse shaft 162 j which carries drive sprockets .163 engaging and driving driven by the 'shaft'167 is a bevel pinion 169 meshing with bevel gears 170 and 171 suitably secured to longitudinally extending shafts 172. The shafts 172 are suitably operatively connected to the pumps 17 and 18 for driving the same. 7

'Now referring toi the conveying. means Ill including the front and rear conveyors 11 and 13, it will be noted that the'front conveyor 11 may be similar to that disclosed in, my Patent No. 2,693,268, dated November 2, 1954.

up mechanism, and other parts, at either side of the ma chine.

In FIGS. 4 and 9, the disintegrating head mechanism 4 of the miner is shown in extended or expanded operating position and when it is desired to collapse the head mechanism to the position shown in FIG. 20, this may be accomplished by removing the side portions 119 of the hopper 12, by lowering the top cutter 7, removing the frame sections 77 and 113, and sliding the side portions of the cutter guide frames inwardly. When the side portions of the hopper frame are detached, the cable 131; must be detachedfrom the take-up arm 126 since the guide pulley 133 is carried by one of the side frameportions 119. One of the detached side frame portions 119 is shown in FIG. 11. When the head mechanism is 001 lapsed, the lower run of the upper loop cutter chain merely hangs down looselyin loops, 'as shown in FIG. 20.

Fluid under pressure may be supplied to the cylinders of the fluid jacks 27 and 86 and to thecylinders 137 of the take-up jack from the pump 18; under the control of the control valve box 190.

The general mode of operation of the improved long- Secured to and driven by the shaft 177 is a chain sprocket 178 which wall miner is as follows: When the head mechanism 4 is in collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 20, and the frame 3 is held tilted upwardly by the fluid jacks 27 with the head mechanism above the floor level, the crawler treads 21 may be driven to effect tramming of the machine about the mine, and when the working face is reached the head mechanism may be expanded to its operative position shown in FIG. 4. The tilting jacks 27 may then be operated to tilt the frame about its pivot 2 relative to the base to bring the nose of the head mechanism down to the floor level, and these tilting jacks may also be operated to tilt the frame to enable the head mechanism to follow an uneven floor or rolling bottom during the mining operation. When the head mechanism is properly positioned at the working face, the crawler treads may be operated to propel the machine forwardly at a relatively slow speed to feed the boring instruments 5 and 6 and loop cutters 7, 8 and 9 into the mineral of the solid mine vein. As the mineral is bored out and cut and dislodged from the face, it may be moved rearwardly of the cutters and boring instruments into the space 117 and rearwardly into the hopper 12'. The dislodged material within the hopper is engaged by the blades of the rotary breaker and impeller devices which break up any unduly large lumps of material and move the disintegrated mineral rearwardly and inwardly within the hopper toward the front conveyor 11 at the bottom of the hopper. The front conveyor 11 discharges the mineral thereon rearwardly onto the rear elevating conveyor 13 which, in turn, discharges onto the conveyor 14.

The boring instruments 5 and 6, as the machine is advanced, cut out parallel overlapping bores in the solid mineral, and the loop cutters 7, 8 and 9 enlarge the opening provided by the bores to form a passage of sufficient cross sectional area to receive the machine as mining progresses. As the miner advances toward the work, roof props P supporting roof bars RB may be set up as close as possible to the rear end of the machine with a row of props extending close to the advance face and with a parallel row of props spaced outwardly from the advance face in the manner shown in FIG. 21, so that the roof is adequately supported at the face, and as the ma chine advances the rear discharge conveyor 14 moves forwardly with the machine in the space between the parallel rows of roof props.

As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 21, the conveyor 14 may assume various forms and herein, for illustrative purposes, comprises an extensible belt 191 which may pass around an angle-turn roller device 192, such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,222,019, so that the outward portion of the belt conveyor may extend in the right-hand end gate or roadway R at substantially right angles to the forward portion of the belt. The outward portion of the belt may be extensible and may discharge onto, or may be associated with, an extensible belt conveyor mechanism. In FIG. 21, the working face is designated F, the advance face is designated AF, the advance end or butt of the face is designated B, and a stable S is provided at the right-hand end of the face for receiving the miner as it is moved back to a new cutting position in a well-known manner. The roof pack or gob is designated G. In FIG. 2a, the endless belt 191 is shown passing around an idler pulley or roller 193 journaled on a horizontally swingable frame 194 pivoted at 195 to swing about a vertical axis relative to the frame 3 of the machine. Carried at the rearward portion of the swingable frame 194 are upright side rollers 196 (FIG. la) located at the opposite sides of the lower run of the belt. Horizontal rollers 197 and 198 are arranged forwardly and rearwardly of the vertical side rollers 196, as shown. Engagement of the side rollers with the side edges of the belt causes the pulley frame 194 to swing with the belt as the angular relation of the machine with respect to the belt varies. The belt underlies the rearward discharge portion of the conveyor 13 and the swivel mounting for the front belt pulley enables the rearward portion of the miner to shift horizontally during the mining operation without interfering with the discharge of the conveyor 13 onto the conveyor belt. When the miner reaches the left-hand gate or roadway R, completing the out along the face, the belt 191 may be detached from the rear end of the machine and is moved back into the right-hand gate or roadway and during such withdrawal of the conveyor the head mechanism may be collapsed to the position shown in FIG. 20, to reduce the outer boundaries of the head mechanism so that the miner may be retracted along the face through the relatively restricted space between the parallel rows of roof props, as shown in FIG. 22. When the miner is in retracted position, it may be moved into the stable S and then positioned at the new butt of the face ready to start another cut. The miner is repeatedly advanced along the face and retracted during the mining operation and during the cuts across the face, the end gates are advanced and new stables are progressively provided for the new cuts, all in a well-known manner.

While the continuous miner of the present invention is shown to be of the longwall butt type especially designed for longwall operation, it is evident that it may be used in other manners in accordance wtih other methods. For example, the machine might be used, with certain modifications, as an entry driver or heading machine, under circumstances where for any reason it is desired to collapse the head during retraction of the machine.

As a result of this invention, an improved continuous miner of the longwall type is provided, especially designed for use in the mining of coal or similar minerals in accordance with the longwall method, whereby the mining operation may be effected in a more efiicient and safe manner. By the provision of the collapsible head mechanism, roof props may be located in parallel rows close to the face with the conveyor system advancing with the machine within the space between the rows of roof props and the miner, when the head is collapsed, may be retracted along the face in the space between the rows of roof props back to the point of starting. The improved relation of the rotary boring instruments and the loop cutters results in a disintegrating head mechanism which i not only relatively eflicient in operation but which is also comparatively simple and rugged in design. The novel arrangement of the drive shafts for the boring instruments and loop cutters and the novel mountings therefor provide an extremely rigid and durable structure, well adapted to withstand the severe conditions of service. The machine is not only relatively compact, but is also well balanced and readily adjustable and maneuverable. Also, due to the collapsible head, the machine may operate in accordance with the novel method while providing improved and safer supporting of the roof at the face. These and other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, and one mode of practice of the invention it will be understood that this form is disclosed for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms and practiced in various other ways without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A mining machine comprising a support movable over the floor of a mine, cutting and dislodging mechanism comprising a side and top loop cutter mounted on said support, side and bottom loop cutters mounted on said support, said cutters each having plane vertical side portions for each forming a sidewall of a passageway in a mine vein, said bottom loop cutters when the vertical side portions of the latter are in their spaced apart operating positions providing .a space therebetween for the pas-- sage of dislodged mineral, and meansfor adjusting said plane outer. side portions of said loop cutters laterally inwardly. relative to said support to reduce the lateral extent of, the machine while said loop cutter-s remain mounted on said support.

.2. An adjustable disintegrating head mechanism for a mining machine for dislodging the mineral of a mine vein to form a passageway comprising, in combination, an upper. cutter: frame having an endless loop cutter chain guided for. orbital circulation thereon, said cutter frame including plane vertical side portions and an intervening horizontal upper portion, said portions providing guideways for said cutter chain, lower cutter frames at the sides of the lower portion of the head mechanism and having endless loop cutter chains guided for orbital circulation thereon respectively,'each lower cutter frame having. a vertical side portion and a horizontal lower portion providing guideways for said lower loop cutter chains, said chainstraveling along said side portions forming the vertical sidewalls. of the passageway, said lower cutter frames being symmetrically disposed at opposite sides of the head mechanism and laterally spaced apart to provide a central open space therebetween at the floor level.

3. A head mechanism as setfor-th in claim 2 wherein said upper cutter frame is adjustable in a vertical direction relative to said lower cutter frame to vary the operating height of the head mechanism while said loop cutter chains moving along said vertical side portions maintain the vertical sides of the passageway.

4. A head mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein,

is provided for disintegrating the mineral in advance, of

the space between said cutter frames as the head mechanism is fed forwardly during the mining operation.

6. vAhead mechanism as set forth 'in claim- 5. wherein one of said loop cuttter chains is arranged in a transverse .zone intermediate another loop cutter chain and said additional cuttingmeans, with said loop cutter chains and said additional cuting means spaced apart longitudinally of the head mechanism, said additional cutting means disposed in advance of said loop cutter chains.

7.111 a mining machine, a support, a disintegrating head mechanism on said support, said head mechanism including a top cutter having ;a front vertically disposed cutter frame guided for vertical movement relative to said support and movable along its guiding means to vary the height of the cut, a'hopper-like space provided frame and extending substantially'the full width of the machine for receiving mineral cut by said top cutter, vertically disposed guides guided for vertical movement relativeto said support, said guides located rearwardly of said hopper-like space substantial distances inwardly of the sides of the machine, said space extending outwardly beyond-said guides, a longitudinally elongated relatively narrow upper frame overlying said support and connected to said front cutter frame and to said rear guides whereby the latter and said cutterframe. move vertically in unison;-

power operated'means located rearwardly of said hopperlike space and connected to saidrear guides for elevating the latter to effect raising of said cutter frame to vary the of said hopper-like space. to aid in the guiding of said cutter frameduring raising thereof.

8. In a miningmachine; a frame providing a mineral receiving space, means providing vertical guideways at the sides of said framerearwardly of said space, guides. movable vertically along said guideways, said space 'ex-. tending laterally substantial distances beyond said guides in advance of the latter, a transverse support when raised extending above said frame and connected to the upper portions of said guides, said support reaching. forwardly above said space, cutter means located in advance of said space and carried by theforward portion of said support for cutting-mineral which is received in said space, and power means located near said guideways wholly. at the rear side of said space for moving said guides along said guideways to vary the elevation of said support along which said cutting means is continuouslyguided, said space being in the form of a hopper containing breaker means for breaking the mineral out by said cutter means,

9. A mining machine asset forth in claim 8' wherein said cutter means comprises orbitally movable cutting 7 elements for cutting a core of mineral which passes beneath said support as the machine advances and said breaker means comprises breaker devices disposed in said hopper for breaking the core before the unbroken core can contact the rearwall ofsaid hopper. V

10. A mining machine asset forth in claim 9 wherein said orbitally movable cutter elements are carried by an endless loop cutting member whose upper run is disposed a substantial distance below the top of'said hopper when ting means and a bottom cutting means, said top and bottom cutting means having relatively vertically movable vertical side, portions one extending downwardlyfrom the top and the other extending npwardlyfrom the bottom and, when the head mechanism is expanded, said side portionssubstantially joining and cooperating to form a fulLvertical-plane side of said passageway, said -bottorn cutting means-comprises oppositely disposed, symmetrically arranged, bottonr trim cutters providing the transversely of said support rearwardly of said cutter' heightof cut, and said hopper-like space has side portions formed indetachable side frame parts which carry vertical guides located forwardly thereof and connected to the outer sidesof said cutter frame at the outer side -7 upwardly extending vertical side portions of saidbot tom cutting means and said bottom trim cutters spaced apart to provide aspace therebetween for the passage of disintegrated mineral therethrough.

References Cited ingthe fileof this patent UNITED- STATES PATENTS 2,093,448 Joy Sept. 21, 1937" 2,189,670 7 Lewis Feb. 6, 1940 2,479,132 'Peale et a1 Aug. 16, 1949 7 2,705,624 f Robbins Apr. 5, 1955 2,705,625 Robbins Apr. 5,1955 2,711,891 Robbins et al." June 28, 1955' 2,715,527 Cartlidge et a1. Aug. 16,5195 2,719,709" Salmonsh Oct. 4, 1955 2,745,649 Robbins May 15, 1 956 2,753,169 Joy July 3, 1 2,760,766 Mayo Aug. 28, 1956 2,770,448 7 Miller" e' Nov. 13, 1956 2,783,037 7 Cartlidge Feb. 26, 19.57 1 2,801,836 R' Se Aug. 6,1957

V i V FOREIGNPATENTS- l 521,915 Great'Britain 631,099 Great'Britain, i Oct. 27, 

